Fox Sterlingworth

[Bigfoot12]

Only one forearm with the set. I wonder which custom shop engraved the Fox on the gun?

[FoxintheHenHouse]

The "fox" does not look like custom shop work to me.

FoxintheHenHouse

[Silvers]

Getting more interesting, is it the Chicopee barrel that has the vent rib?

[Researcher]

Curiouser and curiouser!!

A set of Chic Falls vent rib barrels!! First time I've seen that. Looks like it was a set of barrels made for a more typical Savage-era high-frame Ansley H. Fox vent rib gun and then the rib extension and back part of the rib worked down into a ramp ala the Parker Bros. vent rib.

On the receiver it looks like someone ran wild with an electric pencil, doing stippling, but at some points having trouble staying within the lines. A real collection of mysteries. The Fox (?) on the trigger-plate is quite a piece of folk art.

Oh, if these old guns could only talk.

[Silvers]

Just based on that one pic I'm wondering if this is a Chicopee VR barrel, possibly made for a high-framed TRAP GRADE or similar, that now has a Sterly type forend hanger instead of the Deeley type. Converted by a gunsmith?

Has anyone noticed the safety pushrod that's fitted inside the forearm? See next to last pic. EZ to revert to an auto safety without looking for that pushrod that was put away long ago, somewhere .....

Also if you expand the last pic you can see the Chicopee barrel breech doesn't match the radius of the left breech ball all that well.

Nevertheless the gun does have possibilities for someone who has an inexpensive but good gunsmith to get both barrels on the face and matching up with the contours of the breech balls, also to properly machine that ramp on the Chicopee barrel and to get some engraving on it to simulate the matting. Alternately, to salvage the Chicopee VR barrel to fit to another Fox.

Lots of work either way and JMO of course.

frank

[Mike of the Mountain]

Good pick up on that push rod Frank!

[vaturkey]

Curious what state this gun is in. I saw something similar to this at a gunshop located in Winchester Va several years ago.

[Bigfoot12]

It's a small world out there between Philadelphia and Utica

[fullchoke16]

Appears to be "engraved" via center punch. Certainly a conversation starter at the hunting camp.